PHILADELPHIA -- Donald Trump never met a conspiracy theory he didn't like -- until now. He has dabbled in, among other things, the notion that President Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya, that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was murdered and that Ted Cruz's father was involved in the JFK assassination. But on one topic, Trump is conspicuously incurious: the … [Read more...] about Some Trump-style speculation on the GOP and Putin
Bill’s Valedictory
Bill Clinton appeared as the featured speaker on the DNC's second night. He came after the official nomination and the ceremonial shattering of the glass ceiling (I involuntarily shouted, "Mazel Tov" at the screen). Bill is moving stiffly now, trembling slightly, his voice a bit hoarser and weaker than in his prime. He took us on Hillary and Bill Clinton's fabulous … [Read more...] about Bill’s Valedictory
Egyptian Christians Under Attack
Egyptian Christians are under attack. From the news: "The leader of Egypt's Coptic Christian church is warning of increased attacks on Christians, saying national unity is being "defaced." In a Monday meeting with lawmakers, Pope Tawadros II said that since 2013 there have been 37 sectarian attacks on Christians — nearly an incident a month." "The pope made his comments … [Read more...] about Egyptian Christians Under Attack
Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 2
Andrew Sullivan and Josh Marshall on Bill Clinton's speech to the DNC. Sullivan: He’s so good. He’s slowly building the case for a woman who has worked her whole life in public service, interspersed with his dating tips. He speaks with brilliantly varying pace, weaving anecdote and argument together. He’s telling us a story. He’s reintroducing this woman to America. I … [Read more...] about Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 2
Cartoon: A Sellout of Many Different Colors
A Sellout of Many Different Colors by Clay Jones I ran into a former coworker and fellow newspaper guy a couple days ago and he brought up how mean people are during this political season. I told him how a person who normally likes my work, and is a Bernie Sanders supporter, called me an imbecile a couple days ago (she’s accused me before of having her in mind when I wrote … [Read more...] about Cartoon: A Sellout of Many Different Colors
Can Hillary Convince Voters She’s the Optimistic Candidate?
Can Hillary Convince Voters She's the Optimistic Candidate? By John L. Micek PHILADELPHIA - After four days of doom and gloom in Donald Trump's America, Democrats have a deceptively simple task to accomplish with their convention this week: Namely, convincing broad swaths of voters that Hillary Clinton and her new running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, possess the … [Read more...] about Can Hillary Convince Voters She’s the Optimistic Candidate?
Cartoon: Russia Hacks
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Russia Hacks
Democrat Hillary Clinton makes history with presidential nomination
By Amanda Becker and Luciana Lopez PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Hillary Clinton secured the Democratic Party's U.S. presidential nomination on Tuesday, coming back from a stinging 2008 defeat in her first White House run and surviving a bitter primary fight to become the first woman to head the ticket of a major party in U.S. history. In a symbolic show of party unity, … [Read more...] about Democrat Hillary Clinton makes history with presidential nomination
Are Bernie Supporters Actually Leaving the Democratic Party?
So, it’s no big secret that Bernie Sanders hasn’t been treated that well by the Democratic National Committee. They seldom favorite or retweet his tweets, they don’t participate in his hashtag games and they may have conspired against him to keep him from becoming the next President of the United States. Regardless, Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee and Bernie is doing … [Read more...] about Are Bernie Supporters Actually Leaving the Democratic Party?
Michelle Obama’s ‘Speech for the Ages’
In what the Washington Post rightly calls “a speech for the ages,” First Lady Michelle Obama indeed delivered a speech that will go down in history as one of the most memorable speeches ever delivered during a national presidential convention. The words that resonated most with me -- and words that “brought down the house" were: That is the story of this country, the … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama’s ‘Speech for the Ages’
Conservative Conundrum & Political Labels
"You are not a conservative!" That charge gets used a lot by parties on the political Right. Yet, those who make such a charge don't bother to give a definition of conservative. Perhaps that is because the definition of conservative, as used in politics, is subjective. To get a better understanding of what a conservative is, one needs to consider the definition of to … [Read more...] about Conservative Conundrum & Political Labels
Clinton leaves party’s liberal wing high and dry
PHILADELPHIA -- As protests go, this one was a doobie. Democrats gathering here to nominate Hillary Clinton for the presidency had some company: hundreds of Bernie Sanders supporters marching through town, escorted by a 50-foot dirigible in the form of a reefer. "Berned by the DNC" was the, er, joint declaration printed on the balloon's side. The Bernie … [Read more...] about Clinton leaves party’s liberal wing high and dry
15 scintillating minutes with reggae superstar David Hinds
With a signature sound and an inimitable style, roots reggae band Steel Pulse has been stirring social and political consciousness worldwide for more than forty years. Since forming in 1975 at the Handsworth Wood Boys School, in Birmingham, England, Steel Pulse frontman David Hinds has never shied from an opportunity to share his strongly held beliefs on society, politics, and … [Read more...] about 15 scintillating minutes with reggae superstar David Hinds
#Progressive_Not_Liberal
Bernie Sanders' unpredictable rise in national politics is pushing the Democratic Party out of its left-center torpor, where it has been loitering for forty years. The party's positioning has changed, and so has its branding. Tonight Sanders delivered his economic agenda to the Democratic National Convention. As an also-ran, he avoided identity politics so common in the … [Read more...] about #Progressive_Not_Liberal
Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 1
Andrew Sullivan live-blogs the first night of the DNC for nymag.com. You know, I didn’t cover this primary election but watching some of these Bernie supporters throw various hissy fits, I wonder if I would have found myself backing Clinton. I understand the passion but they sure come off as assholes. Sanders himself was far better – poised, happy to have swung the debate his … [Read more...] about Sullivan, Marshall on DNC, Night 1
Cartoons: Serving Russians
Serving Russians by Clay Jones I’m kinda afraid this idea is obvious and some else will draw it. I gambled. See! Not everyone who supports Trump is a racist, xenophobic, Islamophobic, troglodyte, dumbass. Some people who want Trump to win are actually aware it’ll destroy the United States, and that’s their objective. Short blog again. Still doing this sans keyboard. … [Read more...] about Cartoons: Serving Russians
Can the Democrats stay out of their own way?
WASHINGTON -- I've spent a lot of time this year counseling Democrats, independents and establishment Republicans not to freak out. That advice still holds -- but barely. The release of illegally hacked Democratic National Committee emails, coming on the eve of the convention in Philadelphia, was a fiasco that the forces of truth, justice and the American way -- those, … [Read more...] about Can the Democrats stay out of their own way?
Michelle Obama offers moving endorsement of Hillary Clinton
PHILADELPHIA — Michelle Obama made the case for Hillary Clinton on Monday night by drawing on the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's own struggles eight years ago — and delivering what appeared to double as a message to those in the party reluctant to accept Clinton's candidacy. When Clinton didn't win the nomination in 2008, "She didn't… … [Read more...] about Michelle Obama offers moving endorsement of Hillary Clinton
Is The Jim Gaffigan Show Too Mean to Jim Gaffigan?
I’m a big fan of Jim Gaffigan and a faithful viewer of The Jim Gaffigan Show. The show is in its second season on TV LAND during a time slot that is unbeknownst to this avid DVR aficionado. I think it airs sometime on Sundays following reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond while preceding reruns of itself. Anyway, The Jim Gaffigan Show is a family affair, as it is written by Jim … [Read more...] about Is The Jim Gaffigan Show Too Mean to Jim Gaffigan?
A Campaign Without Issues? (or at least real ones)
There has been plenty said about Donald Trump, and rightly so. There has been plenty said about Hillary Clinton, and rightly so. Each has said things about the other's fitness to be President, and rightly so. Virtually none of this banter, however, has anything to do with any of the actual issues facing this country or its economy. Mud-slinging has been an integral part of … [Read more...] about A Campaign Without Issues? (or at least real ones)